The New York Times sues the Pentagon over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s media rules

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging new press credential rules implemented by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that have effectively excluded most mainstream media outlets from the building. Filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington, the lawsuit argues the regulations violate constitutional protections of free speech and due process.

Under the new policy, Hegseth possesses unilateral authority to determine which reporters receive credentials. Many major news organizations, including The Times, opted to leave the Pentagon rather than accept these conditions. As a result, the Pentagon press room is now primarily occupied by conservative media outlets that agreed to Hegseth’s terms.

“The policy is an attempt to exert control over reporting the government dislikes,” said Charles Stadtlander, spokesman for The Times. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the legal action.

The lawsuit comes amid growing tensions between the Defense Department and traditional media outlets. On Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson conducted a briefing attended exclusively by media organizations that had accepted the new credentialing requirements. Several major news outlets, including The Associated Press, Washington Post, and CNN, were denied access despite reaching millions of Americans.

During that briefing, Wilson dismissed concerns about mainstream media’s absence, stating, “The American people don’t trust these propagandists because they stopped telling the truth. So, we’re not going to beg these old gatekeepers to come back and we’re not rebuilding a broken model just to appease them.”

The Times is citing these comments as evidence of viewpoint discrimination, a central argument in their legal challenge. The newspaper claims that the credential restrictions significantly impair their journalists’ ability to effectively report on military affairs. Moreover, they express concern that the policy creates a chilling effect on journalism by allowing Hegseth to expel reporters working on stories he finds objectionable, even when those stories don’t involve classified information.

Despite being barred from the Pentagon, excluded news organizations have continued reporting on military matters. In recent days, these outlets have led coverage questioning Hegseth’s role in military strikes against suspected drug smugglers, including one instance where a second strike reportedly targeted survivors. This reporting underscores the continued scrutiny of Pentagon operations despite access limitations.

The Pentagon has defended its policy as implementing “common sense” rules that protect military personnel from the release of potentially dangerous information. However, critics argue the restrictions are politically motivated and designed to limit critical reporting.

The Times’ legal challenge names the Defense Department, Hegseth, and chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell as defendants. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of both the newspaper and Julian E. Barnes, one of its reporters.

This case parallels a separate legal battle where the Associated Press is challenging President Donald Trump’s denial of access to White House events. However, Times lawyers believe their case is stronger because their reporters are completely barred from the Pentagon, while AP journalists can still enter the White House but are excluded from specific events.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the agency, expressed support for the Times’ action, stating it was “encouraged by the Times’ effort to step up and defend press freedom.” The association condemned the Defense Department’s policy as “antithetical to a free and independent press and prohibited by the First Amendment.”

While the Times has proceeded with the lawsuit independently to expedite the process, the newspaper has indicated it would welcome support from other news organizations as the case progresses.